Continuous-rail crossing



HOMER BROWN CHRISTOPHER, 0E HENDERSON, TENNESSEE.

CONTINUOUS-RAIL CROSSING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed December 5, 1919. Serial No. 342,839.

T 0 all 20 ham it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER BROWN CHRISTOPHER a citizen of the United States, residing at llenderson, in the county of Chester and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Continuous-Rail Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in joints for continuous rail crossings and the principal object of the invention is to provide a close joining of the rails at the crossing so as to do away with the spaces at these points, thus providing a smoother surface over which the wheels may pass without jar.

Another object of the invention is to provide rotatable parts at the crossings with means for moving them in engagement with the rails of the track along which the train is passing.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan View of a crossing constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 8 and 4 are detail views of one of the rotatable members and its base.

In these views 1 indicates the rails of a track and 2 indicates the rails of the cross track. These rails are cut-away at the four points where the tracks cross each other, the cut-away ends being rounded as at 3. A rotatable piece of rail 1 is placed at each of said points with its ends rounded as at 5 so that it will make a snug fit with the ends of the rails. It will be seen that when these pieces are in one position they will bridge the spaces between the parts of the rails 52 and in the other position will bridge the spaces between the parts of the rails 1. Each piece is provided with a circular base 6 and with a centrally located downwardly projecting pin 7. A base plate 8, preferably formed of steel, is provided with a recess 9 to receive the base 6 and with a hole 10 to receive the pin 7. This base 8 is carried by a concrete base 11 so as to form a firm foundation for the device. I prefer to place ball bearings 12 in the recess 9 upon which the bottom of the base 6 bears and I form a flange 13 around the upper edge of thebase 6 to overlap the upper face of the base plate 8 to act as a dust protector. I also provide a lubricating hole 14 which passes through the base 6 so that the pin and ball bearings may be supplied with lubricant.

The pieces may be rotated in anysuitable manner such as by operating levers as in the present signals or automatically. As shown the pperating lever is connected with the pin a.

It will of course be understood that the four pieces must be moved in unison to complete the track 1 or the track 2. It will be seen that when the pieces are swung into position to complete one track spaces are left between the ends of the rails of the other track and said pieces permit the flanges of the train wheels to pass without striking said rails of the other track thus permitting the train to pass over the crossing smoothly without jars or shocks thus effecting a saving in the wear and tear of the rolling stock. It is thought from the foregoing descrip tion that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arran ement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim is z A railway crossing of the class described comprising a concrete base at each rail crossing having a recess therein, a flanged base plate fitting in said recess and having its flanges bolted to the rail, said base plate having a recess in its upper face and a hole extending downwardly from said recess, a rotatable member of rail-shape having a circular base fitting in the recess in the base plate and a pin depending from said base and fitting in the hole and operating means connected with said pin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HOMER BROWN CHRISTOPHER. 

